Thermoforming Turnaround Time - "Dock to Stock" program

The 3rd Reason Products Don't Make It To Market - Delivery Delays!

Delivery involves more than simply shipping your products to customers or retailers. It involves things such as inventory management, scheduling, quality controls and knowing what materials need to be in stock from quarter to quarter in order to manufacture your custom plastic enclosure.

Challenge
In today's competitive world, turnaround time is critical. But thermoforming seems like such an involved, precise process-how can there be any guarantees?

Strategy
Well, it's true that not all thermoforming companies have them-or can follow-through on short turnaround promises. So, how can you ensure that you have your product on time? Plan. And be sure to research the thermoforming company you use so that you're confident it can deliver on whatever schedule it promises.

Challenge
Your product needs myriad raw materials-what's the most cost-effective way to deal with this?

Strategy
Knowing when to place orders for materials or what materials to keep in stock may seem like a challenge. Be sure the thermoforming company has clear guidelines on how it handles this.

ThermoFab uses a 45-day rolling forecast as part of its "Dock to Stock" program. This reduces duplicate work and delivers high quality assembled plastic enclosure product lines-when customers need it. This reduces inventory on the customer's end and meets the customer's internal production and sales requirements.

A 45-day rolling forecast involves planning materials so the client can push and pull the schedule all year long. A lack of planning for raw materials can slow down other phases. Remember, it's not the cost; it's the planning that matters in the long run.

Challenge
Stories exist about inspections being the source of delivery delays. What are some ways to diminish this possibility?

Strategy
Smart thermoforming companies conduct inspections during every phase of manufacturing. If there are any issues, they can be dealt with at this stage rather than at the end when the whole product line might be affected.

Challenge
Won't processes, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, need to be done elsewhere, thus tacking on time to the delivery schedule?

Strategy
It depends on the thermoforming company-some companies, like ThermoFab, handle things like EMI/RFI shielding in-house, which reduces the time to market.

For More Tips on Getting Your Product To Market Read Our Tips Guide: 3 Reasons Why Some of the Best Ideas Never Make It To Market